Vending-machine.



J. F. KRCMA.

VENDING MACHINE. APPucATloN man Nov. 2. |910. RENEwEn JUNE 5.1915.

1,168.,652. Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

I j@ In ...m1111111 Klim THE COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. C.

J. F. KRCMA.

VENDING MACHINE. APPLlc-A'Tlou men Nov.2. 1910. RENEwED JUNE 5. 1915.

1, 168, 6152, Patenteddam 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l1 @939m l? 1.

THE COLUMBIA PLAvNoGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

,"@Nrrn srarnsf JOHN' F; KiacivnfnV or cnIcAGo, -ILLiNoIs.

vENnIivG-MACHINE.

riesaa specification `if Letters Patent. Patentedgan 15, 1915 `Application meri Novembea, 1910, semina. 590,395. vRenewed June 5,1915. semaine. 32,312.`

To'aZZw/Lomz't may concern: Be it `known that I, JOHN F. KRoMA, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident ofChicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain' new and useful Improvements in Vending-Macliines, of which the following is ra specification.

The main objects ofthis invention are to provide an improved formlof vending machine; to pi'ovideimproved delivery-mechanism for discharging articles orpackages in succession from a magazine; and to provide improved means for controlling `the operation of suchV delivery mechanisms.

An illustrative embodimentof this inven tion is shown in the `accompanying draw- 3 and a leg 4isecured-to the iearof the plat4 ings, in which i Figure 1 isa side elevation of a check controlled vending machine constructed `according tothis invention, the casing being shown yin section. 2 is a sectional `elevationr f of the same, taken on the line A-A 'of Fig.'

8.' Fig. 3' is a sectional plan 4View!ta-ken on the line B-B of Fig. 1. y Fig. 4 is adetail of the coin controlled releasing mechanism, as viewedfrom the rear. I Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail of the operating'and delivery mechanisms, `as rviewed fromvthe rear.

In thefconstruction shownin the draw# ings, a platform l is supported within the casing 2 by means cfa depending front'part form. The part 3 has lugs 5 located at opposite corners,r which are adapted to be 'seated in suitable apertures in the base `of the vcasing 2, whereby the platform is` securedv against shifting or` displacement when the locking lever 6 is shifted to engage the lug 7 on the inner side of the partB. The front of the casing 2 comprises a vremovable frame 8, which has parts 9 adapted tofiit inbehind vthe respective shoulders 10 at' the lower corners ofthe part 3 for securing the lower end of thefront in place.` -A` lock 1l Vat the upper edge of .the `frame 8 secures the yupper 'endof the front. The frame 8is bowed outwardly at 12 to `forma deliverychute 13 i posite edge, and to the rear of shoulder 24. A shaft 25 is rotatably mounted below the platform 1 in the bearings 26, and carries a f into position to vprevent the delivery ofmor'eV4 than one article orpackage at alt-imc. kThe frame 8 has a glass panel 8A `through which` the contents of the magazine l4-may be seen.

The magazine 14 is located above the plat!" torni 1, being mounted thereon, and braced by the extension 15 of the leg 4. The magazine is made of sheet metal, and has parti-A tions `16 which divide it into four compartments, each of which is shaped to accommodate a stack of articles or packages 17,` .lnr

front of each compartment thereis a spring f` l 14A, which is secured to the under side of the platform 1, and has its end 14B` extending up through a slot in the platform in position to engage the forward end of the lowermost package, so as to prevent its displacement eXceptthi-ough the operation of the delivery mechanism.

rI herdelivery mechanism-comprises a plurality of delivery members orstriker plates 18, one for: each compartment, and each is y slidably ymounted'in a guideway 19 in the platform 1,k wherein it is movable back `and forth across its respective compartment. The delivery ymembers 18 are supported on the platform'lf by shoulders 2O located at the corners, and are retained `in the guideways by pins 2l extending across said guideways, and 'bearing against the under face of the platform.. Springs 22, secured to tlre'forward Vend of the platform 1 and to the members 18, .normallyurge-:the members into their advanced position below thek magazinek compartments, in which'position they sup port the stack of packages 17. When the membersare retracted, so that the fronty edge ypasses behind the rearl Wall of the magazine 14,L the lowermost package drops onto the platform 1 into the space vacated by the member 18.' Upon the release of the member 18` from such retracted position,` it

plurality of operating parts or elements 27.

The elements 27 are spaced apart along/the shaft 25 in position for engagement with the respective delivery -members, and are ar- `ll0 ranged'inidiiferent angular positions about" l said shaft. vEachofthe elements 27 a a pair of oppositely disposed shoulders or Vapart at equal angular intervals. Pawls 33l the form of a sector, and has formed thereon lugs 28 and 29, which are respectively adapted to engage the shoulders 23 and 24 as the members 27 are rotated and move the members 18 rearwardly along the guideways 19. As the shoulders 28 and 29are. angularly spaced apart, they operate in succession to continue the rearward movement of the members 18.

Av ratchet Wheel or disk 30 is carried on the end of the shaft 25, and has notches in its periphery to form Jfour shoulders or teeth 3l, which are equally spaced. Onthe face of the" disk are four shoulders or lugs 32, which are equally distant'fromthe axis, and spaced and 3.4, carried by the operating lever 35, are adapted to respectively coact with the shoulders 3 1 and 32. As the lever 35 is oscillated, the pawls cause rotation of the disk 30 continuously in the directionfindicated bythe arrow, inv Fig.` 1. The pawls 33 and 34 are pivotally connected to Ythe operating lever 35, and are normally urged into positionvto coact with their respective ratchet shoulders on the disk 30 by means of a spring 36, which is-connected between said pawls. The operating lever 35 is pivotally connected at 37 to the platform 1,r and its end projects outwardly through a sloty 3,8` in the front frame 6. e A Y The check controlled releasingmechanism comprises a pairfot' members 39 and 40,r

mounted on the frame 8 and suitablyshaped to provide between thema coin pocketl below the coin chute v41,Vr in positionv to receive a check therefrom.` The member 39 is slidably retained on the frame 8 by andbetw'een lugs` 42 and 43, near the lower end, and lugs 44 and 45 near the upper` end. The member 39 has a slot39A which receivesand engages the ylever 35. A spring 46 normallyv urges the member 39 toward the upper limit' of its travel, as determined by the abutting of the shoulder 47 againstthe lug 44. f The ymember 40 is pivotally connected at 48 to a flange 49 on the front of the casing, and its lower end is normally` urged by the-spring 50 sol as to hold the detent 51 'in the path or' the shoulder 52 on the member 39,thus providing a limit to Athe downwardy movement of the slide member 39, unless the detent 51is retracted. A coin pocket 53 Vis formed betweenthe mem# ber 40, the edge 54 of the member 39 and a flange 55 extendingupward from the lug 44,

parallel'with 'said'memben The coin is supported in the pocket 53 by a Yshoulder 57 on the member 40'.` The distance between the shoulder 57 and the frame 8 is less than the diameter of a coin of the proper denomination toei'ect thev operation of the machine,.

Y land the coinl is held in the position shown in dotted outline inV Fig. 1 until the member $39 is moved downwardly through the opera.-

tionofV a lever 35. Vhen the member 39 is so moved, the lug 58 is brought into contact with the coin 56'and urges it downwardly, y

so as tobear against the shoulder 57 and retract the member 40 and `move the detent 51 out ofthe path of the shoulder 52, so as to e permitv a complete movement of the o-perati ing lever 35. When the coin passes the shoulder 57, it is guided by the slot k59 in the member 40 into the coin receptacle 60,"and allows the member 40 to assume itsnormal position. f

A Vdouble acting pawl 61 Vis pivoted `to the frame 8 adjacent to thenmember 39, andV or return stroke of the member .39, the pawl G1l is oppositely deflected and -enga'geswith the rack 63, so as to prevent a" downward movement of the meinberuntil after it has completed its return stroke.

, The coin chute 41 is secured to the iange 49 in position to receive a coin through the s101365.: The coin chute is equipped with ay `magnet 66 by means of: which slugs are delected V:from the normal'cou'rse of a proper coin, and are discharged through ythe 'space' between the magnet 66 and the shoulder 67. A suitable, coin, upon entering the chute, is directed bythe shoulders 68,- the magnet 66, and the shoulder 67, intothe pocket 53.

The operation of the device is as Jfollows :V-A coin is inserted into the coin chute 41 and 'directed into the pocket 53, where it rests upon the shoulder 157. The lever 35 is depressed by the operator, and the mem,

ber 39 is drawn downwardly. This movement of the member 39 brings the lug 58`into contact with the coin 56, which bears against the ushoulder 57, and forces the member-40 rearwardly, and retracts the detent 51, so as to preventrits engagement with the shoulder and allow thelevery 35 tov complete its full stroke. When the coinfpasses the lower end of the shoulder 57, itis deflected ward stroke of the'lever 35 causes the pawl 34, which is in engagement with one of the lugs 32, tomovethe disk 30a part of a reva complete operation of the deliveryV inech-` anism. The rotation ofthe disk SOfcauses the members 27 to be rotated, and the shoul-'F ders 28 and 29 on the members `27`are caused to coact with 4the shoulders`23 and 24 ofthe respective delivery members' 18, in such manner that ythe delivery members 18 are made to operate in succession.y kA downward stroke of the lever 35, and the consequent rotation of the disk 30,'brings a shoulder 28, on one of the members 27, `into position to engage the shoulder 23 on the respective delivery member 18,` andthe subsequent upward stroke yof the lever completes'the engagement, and causesthe partial retraction. of the member 18.` The ynext `downward stroke continuest-he action yof said shoulders, and also bringsthe shoulder 29 on the same member27 into contact with the shoulder 24 `on the same member 18, so that the subsequent upward stroke ofthe leverl 35 continues the retraction of the delivery mem-` ber 18, through action ofthe second pair of shoulders. The next downward stroke of the lever 35 completes the retraction of the delivery member 18, and the lowermost package 17 dropsinto'the space vacated by the delivery member 18. f The rsubsequent upward stroke of the lever 35. causes the shoulder 29 to recede from the shoulder. 24,

and the sirino' 22 urges the deliver member 18 into its advanced positiomwhereupon the packageis discharged from the compart ment into the delivery chute i8. Thus it requires three complete oscillations ofthe lever to effect one complete operation of any one of the delivery members`l8, butthe four operating members27 are sofarranged with respect to each kother that they operate in succession, and release one of the delivery members for each complete operation of the lever. Thus, articles are delivered from the diderent magazine compartments in rotation.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it will'be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention, as defined the follow-` ing claims. f

` I claim c l. In an ejecting kmechanism of the class described a table for supporting the articles to beejected, a rotatable shaft therebeneath,

a plurality of cams thereon, slidable striker plates on said table, a pair of downwardly` extending kofl'set `armson each plate, said f cams arranged in pairs and in offset relation on 1said shaft adapted to contact said arms successively to retract said plates, and a yspring adapted to impel each plate for-r wardly when released from said arms to strikea` sharp blow on the lowermost article of a pileto eject the same.

2. In .a device of the class described a table for `supporting the articles to be vended in. piles, striker plates on said table adapted to strike a hammer blow on the lowermost article of a pile to discharge the samev therefrom, spring lingers adapted to retain the lowermost article from discharge until im-` pelled by said striker plate, depending arms on yeach of said striker; plates arranged in t oliset relation, a shat-beneathsaid table, camst-hereon, a pair for each striker plate arranged in offset relation, each adapted to contact one of `said .depending arms in successive order toretract the striker plate, and

a spring adapted to impel the strikery plate forwardly rto'strike the article to be discharged. f f

3. In a device ofthe class described a tablev for supporting the articles to be vended f in piles, striker plates on said table adapted to strike a hammer blow on the loweimost articlev of a pile to` discharge the same therefrom, means adapted to retain the lowermost article fromV discharge until im pelled by said striker plate, ,arms on earch f of said strikerplates arranged in offset ren lation, a cam sh aftbeneath saidtable, adapted` to actuate said arms in successiveorder to retract'the striker plate, and resilient means adapted to `impel the striker platev forwardly to strike the article to be discharged.

'A device ofA the" class described ems bracing 'a supporting table,` means supportvring al `plurality vof- `piles f of articles `thereon for vending, a plurality of discharge plates f adapted to be actuatedyin successive order to dischargethe` lower-most yarticle of each pile, a pair of arms adapted to retract each discharge plate, and to retain' said plate in leasing the same, and means impelling said plate forwardly to strike said article a sharp blow to eject the same.V i

5. In a device' of the class described a table, a plurality of compartments supported thereon to receive piles of articles to plate forwardly to strike the lowermost article from said pile and permit the pile to rrest on said plate.

6. A device of the class described embracf es: f

y retracted-position for an instant before re-.

table, andy aspring adapted to impel said ing a table, means supporting a plurality of n piles of articles thereon for vending, a.` plurality of discharge plates adapted to be actuatedto discharge the lovvermostV article of each pile, cams adapted to .retract eac-hl dischargeplate, and to retain said Aplate in retracted lposition for an `instantlbefore releasing the same, and a spring impelling said plate'foryvardly to strike said article a sharp blow to eject the same;

7. rIn a vending machine, the combination of a casing, a platform mounted therein, a magazine above said platform, ya striker plate slidably mounted on said platform and f adaptedv to be movedk back and forth across said magazine for discharging packages therefrom,` means normally .urging said strikery plate into its advanced position, aV

pair of shoulders on said striker plate spaced apart longitudinally of the direction of .travel of said striker plate, a rotatable element having a pairV lofangularly spaced vstrikerplate Iintoits advanced position, a pair `of `shoulders on said striker plate spaced apartlaterally and longitudinally of the direction of travel of, said striker plate, a rotatable element having a pair of aiigularly spaced shoulders respectively adapted l to engage said other shoulders in succession f when said rotatable element isoperated for retracting said striker plate, and means for rotating said rotatable element.

9. In a vending machine, the'combination of'a casing, a platform therein, an article magazine supported bysaid casing and com- Y Copies Otthis patent maybe obtainedfor prising plurality off-compartments, a plurality of striker plates, one for each of said compartments, slidably mountedy on said platform and adapted lto .be moved back and forth across saidfmag'azine for discharging articles therefrom, means normally urge ing said striker plates into their advanced position,l a shoulder on each of said striker plates, a shaft transverse to the paths of said striker plates, a plurality o f rotatable members, one for eaclistriker plate, mount-k ed on said shaftf and spaced apart angularly and laterally, and adapted, When said shaft is rotated, to successivelyv engage the respective shoulders on said striker plates, so as to retract and release said striker plates in` succession, and Vmeans for` rotating said shaft.

`l0. ln;a vendingmachine, the combina tioiiof a-caSing, a platform therein, a magazine Ysupported by said platform, a striker i plate mounted on said platform and adapted to be moved back and forth across said magazine forv discharging packages therefrom, a shoulder on said striker plate, Y, a shaft having a shoulder carried thereby and adapted `to ,en,g ,'age the first said shoulder vfor reti-acting said striker plate, a disk Vcarried by said shaft, a plurality of notches on the periphery of said disk, a plurality of shoulders on the face of said disk, an operating lever, a ,pair of pawls carried by said lever and normally urgedinto position to respectively engage said. notches and shoulders, whereby When said lever is oscillated, Vsaid paivls will cause disk `to rotate con; tinuously in oiie direction.

Signed ,at Chicago this 31st day of Oct.o ber,19 l0.k VJOHN F. KRCMA,

lVitnesses: ,Y

EUGENE A. RUMMLER, EDWiN PHELPS.

vecents each, by addressing the Commissioner olf Patents., Washington, 1),. CA. f i 

